Article Added On: January 14, 2005 - over 3 years ago
Title: Religious Leaders Say Tsunami Relief Must Continue
Author: Jan Dean
Publication: Mississauga News
Publication Date: January 01, 2005 - over 3 years ago
Faith Groups: Hindu
Themes: Religion and society

Abstract: Religious leaders from a variety of traditions agree that relief efforts must be ongoing, and go beyond prayers.

Mississauga\\\'s religious leaders believe the hand of God has united the community in efforts to help survivors of the tsunami.

That was the message they delivered to 400 people who attended the multi-faith program, Saturday at Mississauga\\\'s Ram Mandir Hindu temple. They also implored the gathering to continue to make efforts to ease the suffering of tsunami victims.

Vishnu Sookar, president of the Federation of Hindu Temple/Devi Mandir, said the disaster led him to question his faith.

\\\"So many have lost everything,\\\" said Sookar. \\\"Millions have been thrown into poverty. There are no cultural or religious boundaries when it comes to human suffering.\\\"

There were no religious or cultural boundaries at the Inter-faith service that saw Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Catholic and Protestant leaders offer prayers and ask for donations.

Rabbi Lawrence Englander of Mississauga\\\'s Solel Synagogue said we must all live together as one human family.

Pandit Roopnauth Sharma, the Ram Mandir spiritual leader and organizer of the event said now is not the time to ask why the tsunami happened, but to focus on coming together to help those who survived. The 30 Hindu temples in Canada have raised almost $200,000 for tsunami aid so far.

Gail Ramdath and her 22-year-old daughter are members of Ram Mandir. They came and donated to support the survivors of all nations hit by the tsunami.

Mayor Hazel McCallion said prayer without action is not enough.

\\\"It is estimated that 150,000 lost their lives in the tsunami,\\\" said McCallion. \\\"But 150,000 people died in Africa last year from HIV AIDS, and 40 times that number die each year from HIV AIDS, TB and poverty. If we want peace in the world, we have to bring relief to those in need. This is a real awakening, and I hope it will last.\\\"

Rev. Ven Man-Yee of the Fo Guang Buddhist Temple of Mississauga said his temple has already sent food and medicine to the affected areas and is working to do more.

Liberal MP for Mississauga-Brampton Navdeep Singh Baines said the drama and suddenness of the tsunami has caught the world\\\'s attention in a unique way.

\\\"The tsunami did not discriminate when it took lives, and nor should we when it comes to helping,\\\" said Baines.

\\\"We should be concerned about what is happening in the Sudan and Haiti. We should come together more often to work together.\\\"

Baines will be part of Prime Minister Paul Martin\\\'s delegation scheduled to visit the region stricken by the tsunami later this month.